Fred Anderson Ivey, 84

Fred Anderson Ivey was born in Boydell, Arkansas on March 1, 1933 as the first child of Rosia Lee Dickens Ivey and Fred James Ivey. He passed away on September 12, 2017 at 84 years old. Fred had six siblings, Ovella Lowe, Celia Valeria Brown (deceased), James Willie Ivey, Wheirmelda Thomas, Benetta Q. Ivey and John Ivey (deceased).

As the oldest child, Fred was very protective of his younger sisters and brothers. He helped his parents by babysitting, doing household chores as well as working on his father’s farm. As the fearsome big brother, he was always there to get his siblings out of the numerous mishaps and disasters that frequently happened to the six of them.

Fred graduated from Oakland Technical High School (Oakland Tech) in 1951, was drafted into the Army and saw combat as a soldier in the 15th Infantry in the Korean War. His bravery earned him the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

After completing his tour of duty, Fred enrolled in Fresno State University where he received his first Master’s Degree in General Secondary Education in 1959. He was very active in civic affairs on campus, and was a charter member of the FSU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Fred went on to pursue a Master’s of Social Work and Real Estate Certificate from the University of California at Berkeley, and Life Diploma Credential from the State of California Board of Education. Upon graduation Fred worked as a teacher and curriculum development specialist and had administrative experience as an educational coordinator. He also served as an educational and occupational counselor within the high school and community college system.

Fred was also a civil rights activist who engaged in numerous social justice issues throughout the 1960’s and ’70’s and worked in numerous Democratic Party campaigns on the local, state and national level.

Though Fred was an educator, activist, he was an entrepreneur at his core. His real passion was the development and implementation of his numerous commercial and industrial businesses. In fact, Fred owned the first African American Chevron gas station and dealership in the Bay Area. Collecting cars was a serious hobby of Fred’s. Over the years he acquired the first Jaguar XKE in the Bay Area, a Maserati, Bentley, Porsche, an Austin-Healey and Hackney Carriages (London Taxi Cabs). Fred’s love of cars led him to create a business appropriately called Vintage Motors.

Fred’s most popular business, by far, was Ivey’s Ribs and Spirits in Oakland, Ca., and Ivey’s South in Atlanta, Ga. Through the years, numerous entertainers, politicians, civil rights leaders, scholars and artists have either visited or performed at Ivey’s, including but not limited to the Commodores, Sheila E., Prince, Stan Getz, Robert Kennedy, Eartha Kitt, Gordon Parks, Jane Fonda, Oscar Brown, Jr., James Baldwin, Sidney Poitier, Huey P. Newton, Romare Bearden, Maya Angelou and Coretta Scott King.

As a connoisseur of wine and food, Fred spent his entire life collecting and drinking varietals from all over the world. He particularly enjoyed visiting the Bordeaux and Rhone Valley wine region as well as two- and three-Star Michelin restaurants in France. Fred also enjoyed cooking, gardening and playing tennis and bridge and traveling to Fiji, Australia, North, East and West Africa, the Middle East, South America, Asia, the South Pacific, the West Indies and the Caribbean. He lived in Arkansas, California, Florida, the Dominican Republic and Atlanta.

Fred was married three times and had a total of four sons. His first wife, Janice Ross Ivey, gave birth to his eldest sons Vincent Thomas Keith (deceased) and Stuart Antonio. Lynn Farris Ivey, now Lynn Champion was married to Fred for 20 years. Fred’s third wife, Janice Lucille Yvette Bertin-Maurice, is the mother to his sons Darwin Anderson Leonel and Dwayne Charleston Marco.

Fred Anderson Ivey was preceded in death by his father, Fred James Ivey, his mother Rosia Lee Ivey, his son Vincent Thomas Keith, his sister Celia Valeria Brown and his youngest brother John Arthur Ivey.

Melvin Clifton

I am saddened by the passing of Fred Ivey. I found myself thinking about him and even connevting with him only days ago. Iveys, owned by Fred and his brothers, Jay and John was the very first place and job I held when I migrated from the Virgin Islands, Uk in 1981 to California. I also learned of the passing of John Ivey, Freds youngest brother, I think only earlier this year.
My condolences to Fred Ivey’s family and friends.
Some of my best and most joyfull times were had at the renown Iveys Restaurant, 370 Jack London Square (home of the most awesome Soul food, entertainment and place to meet and connect with others.